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COOL AND REFRESHING HUE SAUCE
Not only is it impressive because of its unusual colors, but this dish also has a rather interesting way of being enjoyed, served with shrimp paste, figs, or melon… making any diner curious to try it.
It is known that this is the "nuốc" (or "nướt" as pronounced by people in Hue) - a type of legless mollusk common in brackish lagoons in Hue, found in abundance in Cau Hai lagoon, Tam Giang lagoon, etc.
Hue snails are becoming a trend on social media platforms in Vietnam.
Sea urchins are related to jellyfish and come in two types: ear-shaped sea urchins (transparent white) and foot-shaped sea urchins (with black dots that closely resemble jellyfish). At first glance, many people mistake sea urchins for jellyfish because of their transparent outer shell. However, sea urchins are much smaller than jellyfish, about the size of a ping-pong ball, with a distinctive and eye-catching blue color.
Most people in other provinces and cities often confuse jellyfish and sea cucumbers; many cannot distinguish between them. Jellyfish are simply a species belonging to the same family as jellyfish, formed from water, but jellyfish live in the saltwater of the sea and are found year-round in all sea regions; while sea cucumbers only form in brackish water from "scum" (surface film), are smaller than jellyfish, are clear blue, and only appear during one season of the year.
WHEN IS THE SEASON FOR SNAILS IN HUE?
The clam season lasts for about two months. Clams surface when the sun is shining, most abundantly from morning to midday. The hotter the sun and the lighter the wind, the denser the clams become. However, when the wind is strong, they disappear and reappear quickly, which is why locals jokingly call them "lagoon ghosts"!
When the rainy season arrives, it not only enriches the meals in the ancient capital with vibrant colors but also provides a wonderfully cool sensation, soothing the tired bodies of both children and adults. At the same time, it also has the ability to soothe the skin, effectively eliminating rashes.
DELICIOUS DISHES WITH SNAILS
Sea cucumbers are generally harmless, have a cooling effect, and don't have the fishy smell or cause itching like jellyfish, so they are often caught by locals to eat and prepared into many delicious dishes.
Currently, many videos reviewing this seafood dish are appearing frequently on social media, making many people curious about the taste of this unusual dish. People describe this seafood as having a "subtle salty taste that evokes the flavor of the sea and lagoons; when eaten, it has a cool, sweet taste of fresh seafood."
Squid dipped in Hue-style shrimp paste
Nuoc is a very refreshing dish during the hot days in Hue. Fresh nuoc is soaked in water and drained. Nuoc is eaten with Hue-style shrimp paste mixed with lemon juice, sugar, and a few slices of fresh chili. In addition, sliced figs, unripe bananas, sour starfruit, and aromatic herbs such as mint and perilla are essential accompaniments to this dish.
Sea cucumbers are eaten raw, similar to the pickled jellyfish dish in Northern Vietnam, dipped in Hue-style fermented shrimp paste, and served with sliced figs and cool, crisp cantaloupe.
The dish is served with Hue-style fermented shrimp paste, a little minced garlic, sliced chili peppers, a touch of lemon, and sugar. It's accompanied by fresh figs, sour starfruit, unripe bananas, and aromatic herbs like mint, basil, and perilla, which add a slightly tangy flavor to the Hue-style fermented shrimp paste. Alternatively, people also choose to eat the fermented shrimp paste with thick slices of juicy, sweet cantaloupe. This dish, served with fermented shrimp paste, herbs, figs, and cantaloupe, is considered by diners to be "Hue-style sashimi."
Salad made from sea cucumber
Salads made from sea cucumber feet are also very popular with locals and tourists alike when they have the opportunity to travel to Hue. The chewy, crunchy feet are mixed in a salad with various characteristic fish sauces of the ancient capital or served with fresh vegetables… Although the preparation and enjoyment are simple, it is enough to captivate diners and leave them feeling refreshed and satisfied.
Rice noodles with vinegar sauce
Mussel noodle soup is another delicious dish made with mussels that you should try. The mussels are soaked with guava leaves, then drained. The mussel noodle soup is made from the mussel's legs and is delicious thanks to its broth. This broth is made from fresh shrimp, peeled and deheaded, leaving the tails for a nice presentation. Season with plenty of spices until well-seasoned. Pork belly is cut into bite-sized pieces and marinated. Sauté onions in oil until fragrant, add a little chili powder, and stir-fry until the shrimp and pork are tender. Simmer over low heat for about 10 minutes until the shrimp and pork are tender, then add enough broth to cover them.
If you have the chance to visit Hue in the summer, you absolutely must not miss bun giam nuoc (rice noodles with vinegar and fish sauce) - a special dish unique to Hue and only sold during the summer months.
When eating, put shredded banana blossom, herbs, and rice noodles into a bowl, then add the sea snails and peanuts on top. Next, add the sauce, a little Hue-style shrimp paste, mix well, and enjoy. You can also eat sea snail noodle soup with rice paper and spicy chili peppers. When you taste it, you will feel the crisp and refreshing taste of the sea snails, the slightly spicy herbs, the crunchy banana blossom, all blended with the rich and flavorful sauce.
Eating is seasonal, with each season bringing its own delicacies. Every year, during the season for small clams, vendors from lagoons near Hue, such as Thuan An and Cho Chuon, sell them in many markets. These tiny clams are kept in buckets or basins filled with brackish water to keep them fresh and alive.
The slightly salty taste of the sea cucumber evokes the flavors of the sea and lagoons; when eaten, it has a cool, sweet taste of fresh seafood. Therefore, sea cucumber in Hue is not only a delicious and refreshing dish, but it also brings back many memories of the rivers and waterways of the countryside for those from Hue who are far from home…
